Polishing and buffing machine



May 24, 1938. G. A. CARLSON 2,118,548

POLISHING AND BUFFING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28. 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet l 9- "f 50 INVENTOR.

z; dMZ;WAMW 47 Y 37 y 1938- G. A. CARLSON 2,118,548

POLISHING AND BUFFING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28. 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 68 I l 9 A 8 INVENT OR.

y 4, 1938. G. A. CARLSON 2,118,548

POLISHING AND BUFFING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28. 1956- 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 7 INVENTOR.

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z 3 w w 4 ATTORNEY.

y 1938. G. A. CARLSON 2,118,548

POLISHING AND BUFFING MACHINE Filed Oct. 28, 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 I NVENTOR.

@ZVL ATTORNEY.

May 24, 1938. G. A. CARLSON POLISHING AND BUFFINQ MACHINE Filed Oct. 28. 1936 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 /a we:

INVENTOR Patented May 24, 1938 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 4 Claims.

My invention relates to improvements in a polishing and bufiing machine in which the objects to be polished and buffed are automatically operated therethrough, and the objects of my improvements are, first, to provide means whereby screw heads of various sizes, rivets, pins, lock barrel facings and similar objects may be automatically operated through polishing and bufiing operations; second, to provide a polishing and buffing machine with means for revolving the work as it passes a polishing or bufiing wheel to obtain uniform finish of the work; third, to provide a polishing and buffing machine with means for ejecting the work after the polishing or buffing operation; fourth, to provide a machine capable of economically polishing and bufiing objects in high production; fifth, to provide a polishing and buffing machine with means for continuously feeding objects through the polishing and buffing mechanism; sixth, to provide a polishing and buffing machine with feed mechanism actuated by utilizing a driving movement of an object being polished or buffed; seventh, to provide a polishing and buffing machine capable of accommodating different sizes and shapes of objects to be polished or buffed with a minimum change of parts; and eighth, to provide a polishing and bufiing machine with support means to facilitate application of abrasive composition to a wheel.

I attain these objects by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is a front side View of the polishing and buffing machine; Fig. 2, a rear side view of the polishing and buffing machine; Fig. 3, a side view of the polishing and bumng machine; Fig. 4, a partial sectional view of the polishing and bufiing machine taken on the line 4--4, Fig. 3; Fig. 5, a partial sectional view of the polishing and buffing machine taken on the line 55, Fig. 1; Fig. 6, a partial side view of mechanism. for retaining an object to be polished and buffed; Fig. 7, a sectional View of the retainer mechanism disclosed in Fig. 6 and taken on the line 'i1, Fig. 6; Fig. 8, a sectional view of the polishing and bufi'lng machine taken on the line 88, Fig. 1; Fig. 9, a partial plan view of the polishing and buffing machine as disclosed in Fig. 1; Fig. 10, a partial sectional view of the polishing and bufling machine taken on the line l-l0, Fig.2; Fig. 11, a partial plan view of the retainer member; Fig. 12 a sectional view of the retainer member taken on the line I2l2, Fig. 11; Fig. 13, a partial side View of the retainer and pressure plate mechanism; Fig. 14, a sectional view of the retainer and pressure plate mechanism taken on the line I4I4, Fig. 13, said sectional view being drawn to larger scale than that of Fig. 13; Fig. 15, a partial sectional view of the polishing and buffing machine taken on the line |-l5, Fig. 3; Fig. 16, a partial plan view of the retainer mechanism disclosed in Fig. 14 together with the ejector mechanism; Fig. 17, a partial side view of the belt driving mechanism taken along the line I'|-l'|, Fig. 2; Fig. 18, a partial sectional view of the polishing and buffing machine taken on the line Ill-l8, Fig. 2; and Fig. 19, a partial vertical section of retainer mechanism for use with hinge pins or similar members.

Similar numerals refer to similar parts throughout the several views.

The base member I is provided with feet portions 2 adapted to rest on a floor 3 or similar supporting surface and a housing 4 is secured to the base member I by screws 5.

The housing 4 is provided with a V-groove 6 in which the V portion 1 of the slide member 8 is movably mounted, the housing 4 being provided with a bracket 9 which is threadably engaged by the screw ill, the bracket 9 being secured to the housing 4 by the screws I l, the slide member B being provided with a clearance chamber [2.

The housing 34 is provided with a bore 35 in which fits the pilot portion 36 of the housing 31 which is secured therein by the screw 38. The housing 34 is provided with the flange 39 which is secured to the upper portion of the bracket or housing by the screws 39A.

The shaft 26 extends through the bracket 34 and into the housing 3'! andalso through the worm gear 40 to which it is suitably connected as by a key member 4| to provide a driving connection therebetween. The thrust bearing 5| is mounted in the housing 3'! adjacent the worm gear 40 and around the shaft 26, the upper end of the shaft 26 being mounted in the bearing 42 which is mounted in the bore 43.

The housing 3'! is provided with the chamber 45 in which is mounted the worm 46 supported on the shaft 41 rotatably mounted in the bushings 48, the worm 46 engaging and driving the worm gear 40.

The shaft 41 is suitably secured to the hand wheel 49 which is provided with the handle 50 which thus is adapted to rotate the hand wheel 49 and operate the worm 46 and worm gear 49 to drive the shaft 26 to move the slide member 22.

The bracket 52 is secured to the slide member 22 by the screws 53 and is provided with the boss portion 54 to which is secured the bracket 55 by the screws 56, the bracket 55 having the arms 56A to which is pivotally secured the bracket 51 by means of the bosses 51A and the bolts 58. The bracket 51 is further adjustably supported by the bolt 59 which has a bent portion 69 pivotally engaging the boss portion 6I of the bracket 51, the bolt 59 having a threaded end 62 extending through the bracket 52 and adjustably secured by the nuts 63 which thus provides means for pivotally moving the bracket 51, together with the electric motor assembly 64, to different positions to adjust the belts 65 which are connected between the pulley 66, mounted on and secured to the shaft 61 of the electric motor assembly 64, and the pulley 68 mounted on and secured to the spindle or shaft 69.

The electric motor assembly 64 is secured to the bracket 51 by the bolts I9.

The gibs I3 are interposed between the V portion of the slide member 8 and one side of the V groove 6 to take up wear therebetween, the gib I3 being adjustably secured in its operating position by the screws I4 and lock washers I5.

The screw I6 is rotatably mounted in the boss portion I6 of the slide member 8 and is retained longitudinally by suitable shoulder portions on the screw member I9 and the handwheel I I which is secured thereto by the nut I8, the hand wheel I! being provided with the handle I9, thus providing movement of the slide member 9 together with its supporting portions, hereinafter described, when the handwheel I1 is revolved.

The housing or bracket 29 is provided with a V groove 2I in which is movably mounted the slide member 22 which is provided with a groove 23 therethrough and in which is mounted the bracket 24 by the screws 25, the bracket 24 being rotatably engaged by the screw 26 which when rotated thus provides movement for the slide member 22 and its supporting mechanism.

The gib member 21 is interposed between a straight side of the groove 2| and an inclined surface of the slide member 22 and is adapted to be adjusted to various wear positions and to be secured in said adjusted Wear positions by the screws 28 and also by the screws 29.

The housing or bracket member 29 is provided with a base portion 39 which is secured to the slide member 8 by the screws 3IA..

The bracket or housing member 29 is provided with a chamber 3| in which the slide member 22 moves, the chamber 3| being closed at one side by the offset Web portion 32, the housing or bracket 29 being further provided with the chamber '33 to facilitate machining the grooves 2I, the offset web portion 32 providing reinforcement construction for the housing or bracket 29.

The belts 65, together with their pulleys, are enclosed within the housing II which is suitably supported by the strap I2 connected to the electric motor assembly 64 and by further suitable means such as being mounted on the cap member I3 which retains the bearing assembly I4 in one end of the spindle housing I5, the bearing assembly I4 supporting one end portion of the spindle shaft 69.

The spindle housing I5 is provided with the boss portions I6 which are secured to the bracket 52 by the screws 'II which extend through the bracket 52.

The housing I5 is provided with the chamber I8 through which the shaft 69 extends. The outer end portion of the shaft 69 is supported in the bearing assembly I9 which is mounted in the outer end of the spindle housing I5, the bearing assembly I9 being secured on the shaft 69 by the collar member 89 which is suitably secured to the shaft 69.

The housing BI partially surrounds the polishing or bufiing wheel 82, one side of which extends through the opening 83 at one side of the housing 9I, the housing 9| thus surrounding the polishing or bufilng wheel 82 to shroud it as a hood in its operation and at the same time to permit a sufficient portion of the buffing or polishing wheel 82 to extend through the opening 83 of the housing 8| to permit the bufiing wheel 82 to contact the object being polished or buffed.

The lower end of the housing 8I is formed as a spout 84 through the opening 85 of which pass particles, buffed or polished from the object which is going through the polishing and buffing machine, to the atmosphere.

The housing 8I is provided with a boss portion 89 which is provided with a bore which closely fits around and telescopes over the outer end of the spindle housing I5 to support the housing 8|, the housing 8| being adjustably secured longitudinally on the spindle housing I5 by the set screw 81 and permitting adjustment around the axis of the shaft 69.

The polishing or bufiing wheel 82 is secured to the shaft 69 by the key 88 to form a driving connection therebetween, the polishing or buffing wheel 82 being retained axially by means of the collars or washers 89, which threadably engage the shaft 69, the polishing or buffing Wheel 82, together with the collars or washers 89 being tightened against the collar 99 by means of the nut 9| which threadably engages the outer end of the spindle shaft 69, the collar 99 surrounding the spindle shaft 69 and being held against the collar 89. Thus housing BI is provided with a cover portion 92 which is secured thereto by the studs 93 and thumb nuts 94.

The bracket is mounted on the base member I at one of its ends opposite to that end portion which supports the housing 4, the bracket 95 being secured to the base member I by the screws 96.

The housing 91 is secured to the bracket 95 by the screws 98 and encloses the shaft 99 upon which is mounted the worm I 99, the shaft 99 being rotatably supported in the bearings I99A and I9l, the worm I99 engaging and driving the worm gear I92 which is secured to the shaft I93 by the key I92A and the nut I94, the worm gear I92 being suitably connected with the shaft I93 to form a driving connection therebetween.

The worm gear I95 is suitably secured to the shaft 99 by the nut I96A together with suitable means to form a driving connection between the worm gear I 95 and shaft 99.

The shaft I96 supports the worm I91 which engages and drives the worm gear I95, the shaft I96 being rotatably supported in the bearings I96B and I960. The pulley I98 is suitably mounted and secured to the shaft I 96 and is operatively connected with the pulley I 99 by the belt II9, the belt II9 together with the pulleys I 98 and I99 being enclosed within the housing III which is suitably mounted on and supported by the housing 91 and the electric motor assembly I I2 which is provided with the feet or lugs I I3 which are secured to the bracket I I 4 by the bolts H5 and nuts H6. The bracket II4 is provided with the horizontal flange I I1 which is secured to the housing 91 by the bolts I I 8.

The housing 91 is provided with an upwardly extending portion II 9 which telescopes within the boss portion I29 of the housing I2I, the housing I2I being retained from rotating on the upwardly extending portion III! of the housing 91 by the set screws I22.

The shaft I93 extends through the upwardly extending portion H9 of the housing 91 and also through the bearing assembly I23 which is mounted in the housing 91 adjacent the worm gear I 92 and supports the lower end of the shaft I93.

The shaft I93 is further supported by the bearing assembly I24 mounted in ashouldered bore at the upper end of said upstanding portion II9 of the housing 91, the shaft I93 being provided with a flange or collar I25 and the thrust bearing assemblies I29 and I29A surround the shaft I99 and engage opposite sides of the flange I25 for supporting the retainer member I21.

The roller bearing assembly I29 surrounds the shaft I93 and engages a bore of theretainer member I21 to absorb loads in planes extending transversely to the axis of the shaft I93.

The retainer member I21is retained on the shaft I93 by the disc I29 which is provided with a hub I39 having a bore for receiving the shaft I93 therethrough, the disc I29 being secured on the shaft I93 by the washer I3I and the nut I92, the disc I29 being provided with a boss or extension I33 for engaging an upper surface of the retainer member I21 to space the flange portion of the disc I29 from the retainer member I21 to maintain the clearance space I34. The key member I95 provides a driving connection between the disc I29 and the shaft I99.

The housing I2! is provided with the chamber I39 in which the disc I29 revolves with its upper surface ,I9'I located substantially in the same plane as the upper edge surface I38 of the housing I2I. The diameter I39 of the disc I29 is of sufficient size as to provide the annular groove, channel or space I49 between the diameter I39 of the disc I29 and the bore I4I of the housing I2I.

The retainer member I21 is provided with a plurality of fingers or extension portions I42 which are constructed by machining the plurality of slots or grooves I43 between the extension portions I42 which thus extend cylindrically around the retainer member in the space I49 with the relatively slight clearance space I44 between the extension portions I42 and the diameter I39 and with the relatively slight clearance space I45 between the extension portions I42 and the bore I4I as disclosed in Figs. '1 and 14.

It is to be noted that my invention provides the slots or grooves I43 extending for the total length of the extension portions I42 and through the flange portion of the retainer member I21 to the lower side of said flange portion when desired for retaining objects such as the screws I46.

It is to be noted that my invention provides means in which objects such as screw heads of various shapes and sizes, rivets, pins, lock barrel facings or similar parts are economically and speedily polished and buffed, and the object disclosed herein as one of many objects to illustrate the operation of my invention is a screw I49 having a shank or body I41 which extends and fits between the sides of the slots or grooves I43, the screw I49 being further provided with an oval head I49, the lower surface of which rests on the surface I31 of the disc I29 and on the edge surface I98 of the housing I2I.

It is to be noted that a plurality of screws I46 equal to the number of slots or grooves I43 may be inserted in the retainer mechanism and screws or similar objects of different sizes may be readily accommodated in my invention by utilizing discs I29 and retainer members I21 having extension portions I42 of different diameters and with the requisite spacing and width of slots or grooves I43 by the construction disclosed in Fig. 19.

Now it is to be noted that the wall portion of the housing I2I is cut away, as at I49, Figs. 13 and 16, to expose a portion of the retainer mem ber I21 and to permit the pressure plates I59 to engage and ride on the retainer member I21, the pressure plates I59 which are constructed of metal or similar material being secured to the brackets I11, which are constructed of bronze or similar material, by the screws I19, the brackets I'IlI being provided with extension portions I19 which extend into the slots I89 of the arms or levers I5I, the extension portions being retained and adapted to swivel on the shafts or pins III! to permit the pressure plates I59 toalways accommodate themselves to proper engagement with the screws I46. The shafts or pins I8I are mounted in the arms or levers I51 and in the plates I92 which are secured to the arms or levers I5! by the screws I89. The arms or levers I5I are pivotally mounted on the shaft I52 supported in the bracket I55 which is secured to the housing I2I by the screws I54. The pressure plates I59 are actuated toward the screws I49 by the resilient members or springs I55 which surround the bolts I55 which extend through openings I51 in the brackets I53 and are suitably secured to the arms or levers I5I to exert a pull thereon, the springs I55 being retained by the Wing nuts I59 which threada'bly engage the bolt I55. The pressure plates I59 are rounded at their corners I59A to insure proper engagement with the screws I45 as they roll past and it is to be noted that the pressure plates I59 will engage the diameter of the screws I49 which set beyond the outer diameter of the retainer member I21. Also the pressure plates I59 may be provided with a radius to conform to the radial path of movement of the screws I49.

The screws I51A are mounted in the arms or levers I5I and engage suitable surfaces of the brackets I59 to limit the tension of the springs I55 to permit the pressure plates I59 to engage the screws I45 with sufficient pressure only for the purposes hereinafter disclosed and at the same time to allow the retainer member to revolve freely.

When the shaft I93 is rotatably driven the disc I29 will be positively driven with a rotative movement and due to the engagement of the diameter I99 with the body I41 of the screw I46 together with the engagement of the surface I91 with the under side of the head I48 which rests its Weight thereon, together with the engagement of the body I41 of the screw I45 with the pressure plates I59 which are stationary, the screws I49 will be revolved and will travel along the annular space I49, the driving thrust of the screws I49 thus actuating the retainer member I21 with a revolving movement which causes the extension portions I42 to move the screws I49 continually under and into engagement with the wheel 82, the retainer member I21 being rotatably supported by the bearing assemblies I25A and I29, and thus is adapted to be driven by the rotation of the screws I45, the screws I45 being actuated with a rotative movement immediately they are moved adjacent or into engagement with the wheel 62, thus insuring the total surface being polished and buffed to be engaged by the wheel 82.

As the screws I46 are polished and buifed they are moved out from under the wheel 82 and as they are further moved adjacent the cut away portion I59, they are ejected out of the slots or grooves I43 in the annular space I40 by the knock out member I60 which is provided with the cam surface I60A for engaging the heads I48 of the screws I46, the knock out member I60 being mounted on and secured to the bracket I6I by the screws I62, the bracket I6I being secured to the housing I 2| by the screws I63.

The screws I46, as they are ejected by the knock out members I69, fall into the trough I64 which thus guides the screws I 46 to fall out of the spout portion I65 into a receptacle, as desired, one of the screws I46 being indicated at I66, Fig. '2 and Fig. 16, as falling down the trough I64, the trough I64 being provided with flanges I61 which are secured to the housing I2I by the screws I68.

It is to be understood that my invention provides means whereby polishing and bufiing or similar operations are performed on objects such as above enumerated and when the'wheel, such as indicated at 82 is utilized for buffing operations, an abrasive is applied to the wheel 82 as by engaging the wheel 82 with a cake I69 of abrasive composition, said cake I69 being disclosed, in Figs. 1 and 9, as resting on the bracket holder I10 provided with a trough and located adjacent the exposed portion of the wheel 82, the cake I69 being applied by the operator against the wheel 82 while it is supported on the bracket I10 against the thrust of the whee1'82, the bracket I10 providing a support for the cake I69 between applications. The bracket I10 is supported from the bracket I1I by the screw I12 which extends through the slot I13 to permit the bracket I10 to be adjustably positioned to and from the wheel 82 as desired. The bracket I1I is secured to the housing I2I by the screws I14.

The cable I15 connects the electric motor assembly H2 and the cable 116 connects the electric motor assembly 64 with sources of elec tric current which may be controlled with suitable switches mounted on or adjacent the polishing and bufiing machine.

Fig. 19 discloses the retainer member provided with slots or grooves extending for a depth substantially for the length of the extension portions I42 to provide a ledge or shelf for supporting objects such as the hinge pin MBA or similar objects being polished or buffed and which do not have head portions such as I48.

In operation, the polishing and bufling wheel 82 is driven by the shaft 69 which is in turn driven by the belt 65 which is driven by the electric motor assembly 64.

The screws I46 or similar objects to be polished or buffed are placed in the grooves or slots I43 between the extension portion I42 of the retainer member I21, the screws I46 thus being supported in the space I40 between the housing I2I and the disc member I29 with their heads I48, if the object being polished or buffed is provided with a head, resting upon the surface I31 of the disc member I29 and the surface I38 of the housing I2I.

Then the operator revolves the hand wheel 49 which, together with the worm 46 and the worm gear 40, revolves the shaft 26 to move the slide member 22 together with its supported mechanism, including the wheel, with the desired adjustment pressure against the heads I 48 of the screws I46.

In a similar way the hand wheel I1 is revolved to operate: the shaft I0 to move the slide member 8 together with its supported mechanism, including the wheel 82, fore and aft to properly position it relative to the heads I 48 of the screws I46.

The electric motor assembly H2 drives the pulley I09 which in turn drives the belt I I0 which drives the pulley I08 together with the shaft I08 which drives the worm I01 together with the worm gear I05 and the shaft 99 to revolve the worm I00 to drive the worm gear I02 which in turn drives the upright shaft I03 which drives the disc member I29 with a rotative motion.

The pressure plates I50 are forced into engagement with the screws I46 held in the retainer member I21, the pressure plates I 50 extending through the opening I49 in the housing I2I,

The screws I51A are adjusted so that both of the pressure plates I50 engage the screws I46 after which the screws I 51A are adjusted sufficiently to permit the disc member I29 to revolve freely. The rotative movement of the disc member 12:9 in engagement with the screws I46 will, due to the pressure of the pressure plates I50 against the screws I46, cause the screws I46 to revolve each about their own axis in the annular space I40 and this will cause the screws I46 to roll along the pressure plates I50 and this revolving motion of the screws I46 about their center axis will occur only while the screws are passing the pressure plates I50 and while rolling along the screws I46 will, due to their engagement with the sides of the slots I43 between the extension portions I 42, cause the retainer member I21 to rotate on the bearings I26A and 28, thus causing the screws I46 to be fed around the housing I2I and under the wheel 82, the rotation of the screws I46 in this manner about their own individual axis insuring the heads I48 being polished or buffed uniformly throughout their total area, the heads I48 extending up into the wheel 82 as disclosed in Fig. 14.

As the retainer member I21 continues to rotate the screws I46 will be moved out from under the wheel 62 and as they approach the opening I59 in the side wall of the housing I2I they are engaged by the knock out member I 60 and ejected out of the retainer member I21 and into the trough I64 and out through its spout portion I65 into any desired receptacle.

As the screws I46 are ejected from the retainer member I21 they are replaced by other screws I46 by the operator of the machine who thus keeps the retainer member I21 filled with screws I46. From time to time the cake I69 of composition is held by the operator in engagement with the wheel 82 to replace its abrasive composition and to provide proper buffing characteristics in a buffing and polishing operation.

I claim:

1. In a polishing and bufling machine, the combination of a base member, a bracket mounted on said base member, a slide member movably mounted on said slide member in a horizontal plane, a housing mounted on said slide member and provided with a groove extending vertically therein, a second slide movably mounted in said groove, a spindle housing supported by said second slide member, a spindle shaft rotatably mounted in said spindle housing, an electric motor assembly supported by said second slide member and driving said spindle shaft, a polishing or bufling wheel mounted on said spindle shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, a second bracket mounted on said base member, a housing supported by said second bracket, a shaft extending through said housing supported by said second bracket, a disc member secured to said last mentioned shaft and adapted to rotate therewith, a retainer member rotatably mounted on said last mentioned shaft and provided with means for retaining screws or similar objects to be polished or buffed, between said housing and said disc member, pressure mechanism for engaging said screws to rotate said screws individually and to further rotate said retainer member to feed said screws past said wheel, and an electric motor assembly supported on said second bracket and driving said last mentioned shaft.

2. In a machine, the combination of two concentric relatively driven surfaces having work pieces each of a round cross-section therebetween, spring means urging said work pieces into contact with both of said surfaces whereby said pieces rotate about their own axis and progress between said surfaces, a retainer for said work pieces driven by said pieces at a speed equal sub stantially to difference between the rotative speeds of said surfaces, a work performing means past which said pieces are driven, and an ejector means for removing said pieces from said retainer after passing said work performing means.

3. In a machine, the combination of two concentric radially spaced cylindrical surfaces adapted to receive therebetween work pieces having a cylindrical portion, means for rotating one of said surfaces, a portion of one of said surfaces being radially movable toward the rotatable surface, spring means urging said portion toward said rotatable surface and against the cylindrical portion of the work pieces whereby said pieces are driven by said rotatable surface, a retainer for said work pieces comprising a radially slotted cylindrical member concentric with said surfaces and rotatable under the influence of said pieces, a polishing or bufling wheel against which an end of each of said pieces is moved, and an ejector for discharging each of said pieces from said retainer after contact with said Wheel.

4. In a machine, the combination of two concentric radially spaced cylindrical surfaces adapted to receive therebetween work pieces having a cylindrical portion, means for rotating one of said surfaces, a portion of one of said surfaces being radially movable toward the rotatable surface, spring means urging said portion toward said rotatable surface and against the cylindrical portion of the work pieces whereby said pieces are driven by said rotatable surface, a retainer for said work pieces comprising a web portion having an lip-standing radially slotted peripheral portion with the web forming a bottom for said slots and constituting a work supporting means, said peripheral portion being concentric with said surfaces and rotatable by said pieces, a polishing or bufiing wheel against which the end of said pieces away from the bottom of said slots is moved, and an ejector for discharging each of said pieces from said retainer after contact with said wheel.

GU STAVE A. CARLSON. 

